Business Recycling and Waste Reduction:
WHAT SCHOOLS CAN DO TO REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE
Recycling in school teaches students good habits they can
practice at home and use for a lifetime. Through recycling,
students gain an understanding about their responsibility
to the environment, and learn that they can make a significant
difference through their actions.
Recycling also benefits schools. Diverting recyclable material
from the waste stream can save schools money in collection
costs. By combining waste reduction practices with recycling,
schools can save on materials costs as well.
Generally, school waste is generated in the cafeteria, offices
and classrooms. Cafeteria waste is comprised mainly of food
and food packaging waste. Offices generate mostly paper. Classroom
waste includes teaching materials such as mixed papers and
pencil grindings, as well as food waste.
At the end of the school year, classroom waste can swell
to four times its regular amount, and include materials such
as used workbooks and other papers. Classroom parties also
contribute significantly to the quantity of trash.
Involving students in the recycling process is the hallmark
of many successful programs. Besides requiring students to
recycle their waste, many programs go a step further and develop
pride and ownership in the school's recycling efforts by having
students help run the recycling operation.
Involve students in the promotion of the program as well.
Students can create signs and posters to promote recycling
and to describe what materials can and cannot be recycled.
Be sure to tell people who use the school building after
school hours, such as bingo players, community groups and
the PTA, about the recycling program, so they can participate
as well, and not contaminate the school's recycling.
Reduce Waste
Reduce the garbage produced by cold lunches brought from home
through the promotion of "Zero Waste Lunches" (see
below).
Encourage students to use both sides of writing paper, whenever
possible.
If more than one child attends a school, send home general
information with only the oldest child, to avoid duplication.
Encourage teachers to conduct some lessons and student drills
on blackboards instead of on paper, when feasible.
Route or post internal staff communications. When practical,
use half sheets of paper for memos.
Make double-sided copies. Provide scrap paper near the copier
so that people can retrieve paper and copy onto the other
side.
Zero Waste Lunch
Lunchroom waste creates a problem, because much of the packaging
brought from home is difficult to recycle. Fortunately, it is
possible to avoid producing this waste in the first place, by
following a program called the Zero Waste Lunch.
The theory behind the Zero Waste Lunch is to avoid the generation
of waste from lunches by eliminating the packaging that creates
waste. Zero Waste Lunches require a little extra thought when
packing, but create considerably less waste and reduce cost
in the long run.
Schools can incorporate the concept of a Zero Waste Lunch
in economics, science and environmental curricula. Students
can sponsor competitions based on which class can produce
the least waste from lunches per student. Students also could
weigh the garbage from the cafeteria, and post and regularly
update a wall graph demonstrating their success in reducing
waste. Schools could sell Zero Waste Lunch kits, including
a durable bag, thermos and durable sandwich and snack containers,
as a fund-raiser.
Some suggestions:
Pack lunches in lunch boxes or durable canvas or nylon bags.
Pack items prepared at home, such as sandwiches, in reusable
plastic containers.
Buy foods in bulk, and repackage for lunch in reusable plastic
containers. Avoid single-use prepackaged foods, which produce
more waste and are more expensive.
Pack soft and liquid foods in durable reusable containers,
and use thermoses or plastic bottles for drinks.
Reuse, When Possible
Grasscycle grass clippings by leaving them on the lawn. Put
up a compost bin or compost leaves on-site, or collect leaves
for recycling. Compost tree and shrub clippings.
Encourage staff to bring coffee mugs from home and reuse
them, rather than use disposable cups.
Reuse art supplies such as construction paper.
Use refillable pencils and refillable ink pens rather than
disposables.
Reink and reuse computer ribbons and recharge laser cartridges.
Recycle To Lower Disposal Costs
Recycle old newspapers. Place a collection bin in the office,
teachers' lounge and/or library.
Recycle aluminum cans and foil in teachers' lounges and cafeterias,
when appropriate.
Compost some cafeteria food wastes using worm bins. These
large, wooden boxes can be stored inside and out, and are
half-filled with soil, certain food scraps and a variety of
worms. This type of effort requires a faculty sponsor who
is willing and able to carefully supervise and monitor the
effort. Contact Joe Keyser, Department of Environmental Protection,
at 301-217-2355 for guidance and more information.
Recycle white and mixed paper (manila envelopes, colored
ledger, paper bags, construction paper and other art paper
with ink). Locate bins in the library, each classroom and
office, and next to copy machines.
Recycle plastic: #2 HDPE plastic generated by food service,
and #1 plastic soda bottles in the cafeteria.
Recycle old corrugated cardboard. Break down cardboard boxes
to make more room in the recycling dumpster.
Recycle milk cartons and drink boxes.
Recycle steel and glass containers generated by food service.
Buy Recycled Products
Close the recycling loop by purchasing recycled products. The
easiest and most widely available recycled products that schools
use are recycled copy paper, hand towels and toilet tissue.
Purchase goods which are sold in school stores and for fundraisers,
such as rulers, clipboards, stadium cups, and other items,
that are made from recycled post-consumer or post-industrial
materials.
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